Carton



Sept,D 6, B949a Ri. M. DUNNIN@ CARTON 5 Sheds-Sheet l Filed June 2, 1945 R. M. DUNNHN@ 2,481,405

GRRTQN l 3 Sheets-Sheet ,2

Filed June 2,1. 1945 R. M. DUNNING Sept. 6, v1949.

CARTON 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 2, 1945 Petented Sept. 6, 1949 CARTON Robert M.

Waldorf Paper Dunning, St. Paul, Minnwassiznor to Products Company,

St. Paul,

Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application June 2, 1945, Serial No. 597,269

6 Claims. i

My invention relates to an improvement in cartons, wherein it is desired to provide a tight carton.

In the formation of cartons of the regular tubular glued end type, diiiiculty has been long experienced in providing a tight closure. The cartons are usually supplied the user in nat form glued along a longitudinal seam. In setting up the cartons its is usual practice to fold the same into tubular'form and to seal one end over a mandrel or block. which provides a tight seal for this end of the carton. After the carton has been filled, the second end thereof is then sealed. As there is no internal support for this sealing operation, the inner iiaps, which are usually folded into opposed coplanar relation, are :forced down into the carton, forming an ineiectve seal with the overlying flaps forming the closure. This condition is aggregated by the fact that the iiaps tend to curi when moistened with adhesive.

Various means have been provided for supporting the flaps during the sealing operation and much time and money has been spent in experimentation in an effort to obviate this previous difficulty. While various means have been provided to accomplish the desired result, many of these previous means require costly equipment or unusual carton design which require more stock or produces an unusual type of carton design which can not be sealed on regular sealing equipment.

it is the object of the present invention to provide means of supporting the inner aps of the carton so that external pressure may be applied against the top of the carton to seal the aps together without danger of folding the flaps inwardly. As a result the tight seal may be efiected without the accompanying disadvantages.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a means of supporting the inner flaps of the carton so that they can not curl inwardly when adhesive is applied thereto.

A further feature of the presenti nvention resides in providing an innermost ap which acts to structurally support the remaining flaps to prevent the same from being forced or folded into the interior of the carton.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of flap means yconnected to one of the closure flaps which acts in combination with the glue iiap of the carton to support the remaining aps of the closure.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following speciflcation and claims.

In the drawings forming a. part of my specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective view oi a carton having one end thereof in open position showing a means for preventing the inward warp of the closing flaps.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the innermost flap in closed position.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figures 1 and 2 showing the carton in sealed form, a portion oi the carton being broken away to show the inner construction thereof.

Figure 4 is a vertical section through the container showing the construction thereof.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the blank from which the carton of Figures 1 to 4 is formed.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing a modified form of construction.

Figure 'l is a perspective view of the carton shown in Figure 6 with one end thereof in open position.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure '7 showing the underlying iiap of the end closure in partially closed position.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figures 7 and 8 showing the carton in sealed condition, a portion ofthe carton being broken away to show the construction thereof.

Figure 10 is a vertical section through the carton showing the fiap construction.

The carton A, illustrated in Figures 1 through 5 of the drawings, includes a series of wall panels I0, Il, I2 and i3 connected along parallel fold lines I4, l5 and I6. A glue iiap I1 is connected to the panel Ill along a parallel fold line I9.

End closure flaps issue from the top and bottom edges of the various panels I0 through I3. The flaps 20, 2l, 22 and 23 are connected to the panels Ill, Il, I2 and i3, respectively, along the fold line 24. Similar iiaps 25, 26, 21 and 29 are connected to the panels I0, II, I2 and I3 respectively along the fold line 30. The various closure flaps described are designed to form top and bottom closures for the carton.

Connected to the closing flap 20 along a continuation of the fold line I9, indicated by the numeral 3|, I provide a locking flap or tab 32. A second continuation 33 of the fold line I9 may serve to connect a second locking nap or tab 34 to the iiap 25. It will be noted that the upper and lower ends of the glue flap I1 are provided with cut off corners 3'5 and 36. The adjacent ends of the tabs or aps 33 and 34 are likewise cut diagonally at 31 and 39. These cut-off corners are designed to form mltered corners in the finished carton as will be best seen in Figures 1 through 4 of the drawings.

In gluing the carton blank oi' the carton A. it is necessary to either spot glue adhesive onto the flap I1 or else to apply a coating of printing ink or the like to the surface of the Aflaps or tabs 32 and 34 so that adhesive will not readily adhere thereto. The carton is then folded in the usual manner and the glue flap I1 adhered to the inner surface of lthe panel I3. In accomplishing this operation the panel I6 supporting the glue flap I1 is preferably folded along the fold line I4 and the panel .I3 is next folded along the fold line I6 t9 overlie the glue ilap and tobe adhered thereto. This operation may be accomplished on any of the usual types of gluing machines.

'Ihe carton is then glued in tubular form and may be opened up into rectangular formation and one end of the carton sealed. As previously mentioned one end of the carton may be sealed over a mandrel and for this reason the flap 32 or 34 may be omitted from this first sealed encl.

' or flap 64. The flap 62 When one end of the carton has been sealed in the usual manner the carton appears as illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings. The next step in the closing process is to fold the flap 20 downwardly into the position shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. It is usual practice to fold two flaps such as 20 and 22 into opposed coplanar relationship. In the presentfconstruction, however, the ilaps 20 and 22 are sufdciently long to overlap slightly at the cententhereby making it desirable for the flap 20 to be folded down slightly in advance of the flap 22.

The flap 22 is next folded to slightly overlap lthe flapY V2li/and the remaining flaps 2| and 23 are next folded into super-imposed relation overlying the flaps 20 and 22. Adhesive is applied either to the undersurface of both flaps 2I and 23, to the upper surface of the flaps 20 and 22 and the undersurface of one of the aps 2I and 23 or alternatively to both upper and lower surfaces of the outermost of the ilaps 2l and 23. No special gluing apparatus is required and such a step as the gluing operation is conventional.

When the sealing flaps have been folded into sealed formation it will be noted that the diagonal cut edges and 31 of the flaps I1 and 32, respectively, fold into abutting relation. At the lower end of the carton it will be noted that the diagonally cut edges 36 and 39 of the flaps I1 and 34 fold into abutting relation. The abutments of the diagonally cut edges acts to limit the folding of the flaps 20 and 25 about their fold lines 24 and 36, respectively, these edges acting to hold the flaps 26 and 25 in substantially right angular relation to the carton wall I0 from which they issue. As a result the amount of inward pressure necessary to seal the .various flaps 20, 2l, 22 and 23 and the various aps 25, 26, 21 and 29 may be applied without danger of bending the inner aps inwardly of the carton and forming an ineffective end seal.

The thickness of the stock forming the carton is exaggerated in the drawings for the purpose of illustration. It has been found in actual practice, however, that the abutment of the mitered edges vdescribed serves effectively to support the innermost flap 20, thereby permitting an effective top seal to be eiected. y i

In Figures 6 through 10 of the drawings, I disclose a modified form of carton construction embodying similar principles. In the carton B shown in these gures, the carton blank includes lines 65 and 61.

vof the fold lines 49 and panels 40, 4I, 42, and 43 allel fold lines 44, 45, and connected to the panel 40 which fold line is parallel 46. .Top closure aps or panels 50, 5I, 52, and V53 are connected to the wall panels 40, 4I, 42, and 43 along the fold line 54. End closure .flaps 65, 56, 51, and 59 are connected to bottom edges of the walls 40, 4I, 42, 60. The ilrst mentioned flaps through 53 are designed to lie in superimposed relation to form a. top carton seal While the flaps through 59 are designed to be superimposed to form a bottom carbon end seal.

A continuation 6I of the fold line 49 serves to connect the ap 50 with a flange or flap 62. A similar extension 63 of the fold line 49 acts to connect the bottom closure flap 55 to the flange is defined by the fold lines 6I and 54 and the edge of the carton blank, while the flap 64 is bounded by the fold lines and 63 and the edges of the carton blank.

A diagonal fold line 65 is yprovided in the glue flap 41 extending diagonally from the juncture 54. This fold line 65, together with the fold line 54 define a triangular' panel 66 connecting the flap 41 with the flap 62.

A second diagonal fold line 61 extends diagonally from the juncture between the fold lines 49 and 60. The diagonal fold line 61 and the fold line 60 dene a triangular panel 69 connecting the glue ap 41 to the ap 64.

In applying adhesive to the carton to secure the carton in tubular form it is necessary either to spot glue adhesive onto the panel 41 in the area. .between the fold line 49 and the adjacent edge of the blank, and between the diagonal fold 'Ihis may be accomplished connected along par- 46. A glue flap 41 ls along the fold line 49. to the lines 44, 45 and either by applying glue on a spot gluing machine or by printing the outer surface of the flaps 62 and 64 as well as the triangular `panels 66 and 69.

The lapplication of printing ink or a dilerent coating to the surfaces of these members acts to prevent the glue from adhering to these surfaces during the gluing operation.

In folding the carton B it is usual practice to fold the blank along the fold line 44 and then along the fold line 46 so that the marginal edge of the panel 43. overlies the glue flap 41 and is One end of the carton may then be lled in the usual manner over a man- For this reason either the panel or flap 62 on the flap 64 may be omitted if desired. When One sealed the carton appears as illustrated in Figure 7 of the drawings with the upper end thereof in open position. The carton may then be filled and the next step is to fold the upper closingaps into superimposed relation In closing theupper end of the carton B itis usual practice to fold the flap 50 downwardly in the manner illustrated in Figure 8 of the drawings. In this operation the triangular panel 66 acts as a gusset connecting the flap 62 with the glue ap 41. The size of the triangular ilap 66 and the angle of the fold lines by which it is connected to the panels 62 and 41 determine the limit to which the flap 50 may be pivoted. Accordingly if the angle between the fold lines 54 and 65 is approximately 45 or slightly less than this amount the flap 50 may pivot down into the horizontal position illustrated in Figure 9 and will be prevented from further pivoting. As a result the flap 50 is similarly supported extending at right' angles to the carton wall 40 from and 43 along the fold line y end of the carton has beenl which it issues, acting as a firm foundation for the remaining llaps.

After the nap 5l) has been folded into horizontal position the flap 52 is folded to overlie the same and the remaining flaps 5| and 53 are then folded into superimposed relation to overlie the flaps 50 and 52. External pressure may be applied to seal the aps without danger of the flaps 50 and 52 warping down into'the interior of the carton.

It will be noted that the carton construction illustrated utilizes no more stock than is ordinarily required for a glued end carton, as such a carton is always provided with a glue iiap l1, the ends of which may be cut away if desired. Cutting off the ends of the glue flaps ordinarily does not save any paper stock, however, as this stock is wasted in the sheet. Thus a more effective seal' may be effected without the use of any more paper than is usually required for the carton.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my carton, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the foilowing claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Iclaim:

l. A carton comprising tubularly arranged side walls, end closure aps issuing from said side walls, a glue flap on one of the side walls adhered to the inner surface of an adjacent side wall, a diagonally cut end on said glue flap, and ap means on the closure flap of said one side wall having an edge engageable against the diagonally cut end of said glue ap the diagonally cut flap end and said engageable edge of said ap means being at right angles when the vsaid one side wall and its closure nap are in the same plane.

2. A carton comprising a series of connected side walls and a glue flap on one side wall overlapping the next adjacent side wall and secured to the inner surface thereof, end closure flaps on said side walls, and a ap on the end closure flap of said one side wall engageablea-gainst an edge of said glue flap to prevent the inward warping of said one closure flap, said engageable edges being at right angles when said one side wall and its end closure flap are in the same plane.

3. A carton including a series of connected side wall panels, a glue ap on one of said panels overlapping the adjacent panel and secured to the inner surface thereof, closure flaps issuing from said side walls, and a. locking iiap on the 4. A carton comprising a series of panels foldably connected together, a glue llap on one of` said panels overlapping the adjacent panel and secured to the inner surface thereof, closure iiaps issuing from an end of said side walls, a flange on the closure flap of said one panel, and mitered edges on said iiange and on said glue flaps designed to engage in abutting relation when'said one closure flap is in closed position, said mitered edges being at right angles when said one panel and its closure panel are in the same plane. A

5. A carton blank comprising a series of panels connected along parallel fold lines, a glue flap connected to one of said panels along a line parallel to said rst named fold lines, flaps issuing from opposite ends of each of said panels, and a flange connected to one of said ilaps along a continuation of the fold line connecting said glue flap to said one panel, and a diagonal notch between said flange and said glue flap having its vertex at the intersection of the fold line connecting said one flap to its supporting pane1 and the fold line connecting said glue iiap to its supporting panel, the sides of said notch being arranged at right angles.

6. A carton including a series of connected panels, a glue hap on one of said panels overlying the adjacent panel and secured to the inner surface thereof, an obliquely cut end on said glue flap, closure flaps issuing from an end of said carton walls, the closure flap on said one panel having a flange thereupon provided with an obliquely cut edge thereupon enga-geable with the obliquely cui'l end of the glue flap, said obliquely cut edge on-said flange and said obliquely cut end on said glue ap being at right angles when said one panel and its closure flap are in the same plane.

ROBERT M. DUNNING.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTSl Number Name Date 149,549 Vickery Apr. 7, 1874 341,859 Selb May 11, `1886 1,587,038 Sandor June 1, 1926 1,987,647 Wellman Jan. 15, 1935 2,047,891 Scott July 14, 1936 2,140,178 Wesselman Dec. 13, 1938 2,163,828 Chalmers June 27, 1939 

